Kara Sears
The process of introducing legislation typically begins with the presentation of a proposal in one of four forms: a bill, a joint resolution, a concurrent resolution, or a simple resolution. In the United States, the legislative process is initiated by introducing a bill to Congress, which can be done by any member of the House of Representatives at any time during a session. The bill is then assigned a legislative number by the Clerk and referred to the appropriate committee for review. The committee will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill before it is voted on by the chamber. If a bill passes one body of Congress, it undergoes a similar process in the other body before both chambers vote on the same version of the bill. While the House and Senate have equal authority in enacting legislation, there are some procedural differences, such as the House's exclusive power to initiate tax and revenue-related laws and the Senate's unique role in drafting laws related to presidential nominations and treaties.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who can introduce a bill | Any member of the House of RepresentativesAny member of the US SenateCitizens or citizen groupsThe President or a member of their cabinetState legislaturesThe Mayor of the District of ColumbiaCharter independent agencies in the District of Columbia |
| Who can initiate legislation | The House of RepresentativesThe Senate |
| Who has the authority to enact legislation | Congress |
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What You'll Learn
Members of the House of Representatives
Any member of the House of Representatives can introduce a bill at any time while the House is in session. They can do so by placing the bill in the "hopper" at the side of the Clerk's desk in the House Chamber. The sponsor's signature must appear on the bill, and an unlimited number of members can co-sponsor a public bill. The Clerk then assigns the bill its legislative number and refers it to the appropriate committee with the assistance of the Parliamentarian. The bill is then printed in its introduced form.
The committee stage is an important phase of the legislative process. It is during committee action that the most intense consideration is given to the proposed measures, and the people are given the opportunity to be heard. Each piece of legislation is referred to the committee that has jurisdiction over the area affected by the measure. The bill is then put before the chamber to be voted on. If the bill passes one body of Congress, it goes to the other body to undergo a similar process of research, discussion, changes, and voting.
In addition to members of the House of Representatives introducing their own bills, they can also receive proposals from their constituents, either as individuals or through citizen groups, who have the right to petition and transmit their proposals. If a member is favourably impressed by the idea, they may introduce the proposal as it has been submitted or redraft it.
The most customary form of proposal used in both Houses is the bill. During the 109th Congress (2005–2006), 6,436 out of 10,558 bills and 102 out of 143 joint resolutions originated in the House of Representatives.
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Senators
In addition to bills, senators can also introduce joint resolutions, which are designated by "S.J. Res." followed by a number. Joint resolutions become law in the same manner as bills, with the exception of proposed amendments to the Constitution. Concurrent resolutions are used to express the sentiments or accomplish the internal administrative tasks of both chambers, and simple resolutions are used by individual chambers for the same purpose. These resolutions are not presented to the President for approval and are not legislative in character.
It is important to note that while the Senate and the House of Representatives are equal in their functions, there are some procedural differences. For example, only the House can initiate tax and revenue-related legislation, while only the Senate can draft legislation related to presidential nominations and treaties. The House processes legislation through a majority vote, while the Senate engages in deliberation and debate prior to voting.
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Citizen groups
Additionally, citizen groups can engage in advocacy and awareness campaigns to influence the introduction of legislation. This can involve educating the public about an issue, organising protests or petitions, and building public support for a particular cause. By generating public interest and support, citizen groups can pressure members of the House of Representatives to introduce legislation that aligns with their interests.
It is important to note that the process of introducing legislation may vary depending on the specific rules and procedures of the legislative body in question. In the United States, for example, the House of Representatives and the Senate have different procedures for introducing legislation, with the House initiating tax and revenue-related legislation and the Senate drafting laws related to presidential nominations and treaties.
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The President
When Congress receives a vetoed bill, it can either accept the veto or attempt to override it. Overriding a presidential veto requires a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and the Senate, which is a challenging threshold to meet. If one chamber sustains the veto, the bill is effectively killed. On the other hand, if Congress successfully overrides the veto, the bill becomes law without the President's signature.
Additionally, the President, as the head of the executive branch, is responsible for implementing laws. The President can delegate authority to an agency within the executive branch to issue administrative regulations explaining how the law will be put into effect and how citizens must comply. The political agenda of the administration can influence the implementation process, especially when Congress and the executive branch are controlled by different parties.
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The District of Columbia's Mayor
The mayor can appoint several officers, including deputy mayors for Education and Planning & Economic Development, the district administrator, the chancellor of the district's public schools, and the department heads of the district agencies. The mayor also has the power, without Congressional approval, to consolidate District agencies and transfer money between agencies.
The District of Columbia Home Rule Act, enacted by Congress in 1973, provided for a popularly elected mayor and a 13-member Council. The first elections took place in 1974, and the first mayor, Walter Washington, took office in 1975. The mayor serves a four-year term.
The District of Columbia has had a long history of congressional oversight of its local affairs. Congress has the power to review and prevent the implementation of bills passed by the council, even if they were passed with a large majority. Congress can also pass legislation for the district without the approval of residents or the local government and can revoke the home rule charter.
In recent years, there have been efforts to curtail congressional oversight of the District of Columbia's local affairs. In 2025, Senator Mike Lee and Representative Andy Ogles introduced the Bringing Oversight to Washington and Safety to Every Resident (BOWSER) Act, which would repeal the District of Columbia Home Rule Act. This bill was introduced in response to the mayor and city council's failure to address violent crime, corruption, and voting by non-citizens. However, it is important to note that the District's local government has also been criticised for mismanagement and waste.
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Frequently asked questions
Any member of the House of Representatives can introduce a bill at any time while the House is in session. The bill is then referred to a committee that will review it.
A bill can also be proposed by a sitting member of the Senate. A Senate bill is designated by "S." followed by its number.
Yes, the idea for a bill can be proposed by citizen groups or individuals who can transmit their proposals to a member. State legislatures can also propose bills by passing resolutions to be transmitted to the House and Senate.
Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee that will research, discuss and make changes to the bill. The bill is then put before the chamber to be voted on. If the bill passes one body of Congress, it goes through the same process in the other body. Once both bodies vote to accept a bill, they must work out any differences between the two versions. Then both chambers vote on the same version of the bill. If it passes, they present it to the president.
The President does not introduce a bill but can request a member of Congress to do so.
